Chaparral Pea
Pickeringia montana var. montana
Care
full sun, part shade
very low
Fast; Typically found in the wild in rocky, gravelly or sandy soil. May be tolerant of garden soil if drainage is very good.
1–6ft tall , 8–8ft wide
Mar-Aug
Deciduous
Resistant
Friendly
Prized
Chaparral of the Sierra Nevada foothills and interior ranges from Kern to Butte County, 1500-5000 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your chaparral pea in full sun with fast-draining soil - rocky, gravelly, or sandy soil is ideal, though garden soil works if drainage is excellent. Space plants to account for their spreading root system and low, dense growth habit. Fall or early winter is the best planting time in the Bay Area, giving the plant time to establish before summer heat.
After Planting
Water weekly through your plant's first summer, then taper off as it becomes established - by the second year, it should need no summer irrigation at all once the rainy season ends. Expect your chaparral pea to drop its leaves in winter (it's deciduous) and bloom heavily in spring and summer with bright magenta flowers. The #1 mistake is overwatering: this is a desert chaparral plant that evolved in rocky, infertile soil and will rot if kept too moist, so err on the side of dry once established.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
California endangered species; endemic to California
California endemic, limited range
Wildlife Supported
Insects
Spring larval host, typically monophagous on Pickeringia
Spring emergence larvae utilize young foliage
Early spring larval development on young foliage
Primary host plant for spring generation larvae
Summer larval host plant
Spring larval development on flowers and developing fruit
Summer generation larvae feed on developing seed pods
Multiple generations use developing legume pods
+3 more species
Birds
Early season nectar source during limited bloom period